Stories
Why is SP Insisting on Sending Akhilesh's 'Super Mind' Alok Ranjan to Rajya Sabha?
- •Samajwadi Party has once again put its trust in former Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections.
- •Ranjan was UP's Chief Secretary during Akhilesh Yadav's tenure and continued as Chief Advisor post-retirement.
- •He monitored key projects like Lucknow-Agra Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Lucknow IT City, and Gomti Riverfront.
- •Alok Ranjan is a 1978 batch IAS officer, an IIM Ahmedabad MBA, and secured fourth rank in UPSC Civil Services Exam.
- •SP had fielded him in the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, but he lost; now, the party is trying again for 2026.
Key Questions Answered
Alok Ranjan is a 1978-batch retired IAS officer, UPSC topper, and IIM Ahmedabad graduate who served as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. He later served as Akhilesh Yadav's Chief Advisor with cabinet minister status and monitored several major government infrastructure projects, making him a key administrative figure trusted by the Samajwadi Party for the Rajya Sabha elections.
Voting for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for October 16, 2026. These biennial elections are being held as the terms of sitting members are ending, setting up a closely watched political contest ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections.
Yes, Alok Ranjan was fielded by the Samajwadi Party as a candidate in the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections. However, he could not win the seat at that time due to cross-voting by some SP MLAs, and the party has once again decided to field him for the upper house.
